Wire tensioning and twisting machine



A. J. GERRARD AND P. WRIGHT,

WIRE TENSIONING AND TWISTI NG MACHINE. APPHCATION FILED ocTa 22. 1920.

1,425,850. Pat nt dAug- 15, 1922.

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WIRE TEN'SIONING AND TWISTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED ocT. 22, 1920.

1,425,850. Patented Aug. 15, 1922.

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A. J. GERRARD AND P. WRIGHT.

WIRE TENSIONING AND TWISTING MACHINE.

APPHCATION FILED OCT: 22, I920- Patented Aug. 15, 1922;

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- 7 WIRE TENSIONING AND TWISTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Iiatent. Patented Aug. 15, 1922,

' Applic ation filed October 22, 1920. Serial No.-418,634.

To alli'whomit may concern: v

.Be it knownthat we, ALEG,J. GERRARD and PARVIN WRIGHT, respectively a subject of the King of Great Britain and a citizen of.the United States, each residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and use-.

ful Improvements in Wire:Tensioning and Twisting Machines; and we do hereby declare the 'following to'be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to wire tensioning and twisting machines, and has for its object to provide a machine of this character which will be simple in construction, comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, and more eflicielnt in action than those heretofore propose o a With these and other objects in view, the invention consists .in the novel .details'of construction and combinations of parts more fully hereinafter disclosed and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to-the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which like numerals designate like parts in all the views:

Figure 1 1s a diagrammatlc front elevational View of a machine made in accordance with this invention; 7 I I Figure 2 is an end elevatlonal view of the .parts shown in Figure 1, as seen from- 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line 4-4 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; I Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken approximatelyon the line. 55 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

' Figure 6 is a diagrammatic plan view of the wire tie formed by this machine.

In our prior U. S. application, #391,678, filed June 25, 1920, and entitled Automatic hwire tensioning and tying machines, we

have disclosed one form of wire tying machine provided with an autqmatic tensionisng device for, placing the Wire .or band under a predeterminedtension before commencing the twisting operation. The present invention is somewhat similar to that disclosed in this said prior application, but we have here shown an improvedform of tensioning means, another form of stop means for insuring that the slot in the wire twisting pinion will always register with the wire retaining slots in the frame work at the end of the twisting (operation, and we have also disclosed means foreje'cting the wire from the twisting pinion upon 'the completion of the twisting operation.

1 indicates any suitable base provided at one end with an upright extension 2, in which is journalled a shaft 3 provided at one end with the cran handle 4 and carrying upon its other end a suitable pinion 5 (see Figures 1 and 3.) The base 1 at the .end opposite the extension 2 is provided with an integral upright housing 6 constituting the casing for the twisting gear train comprising the pinion 5, the intermediate gear 7, which is rotatably mounted on the stud 8 carried in the said housing 6, and the twist ing pinion 9, as will be clear from the The said hubs or extensions 12 and. 13, as.

is usual in this type of twisting mechanism,

are provided with slots 14 and 15 respec- I tively, .of a width of at least twice the di' ameter of thewire which is to beemployed in the machine. These slots are connected by the slot '16 in the pinion 9 which slot is of reduced width, preferably only exceeding the diameter of-the wire sufliciently to permit its ready insertion and withdrawal. The housing 6 as well as the end member 10 are also provided'with slots 17 and 18 respectively, of a width equal to at least twice the diameter of tl1e wire.

The member 10 is providedwith the rigid post 20 having a horizontal slot 21 therein, adapted to receive the wire, and the member 1 is likewise provided with the rigid post of the wire and the said cutting sleeve 24 may be actuated in any suitable manner, as,

- for example, by the finger 26, rigid with the said sleeve, and which projects through a slot 27 in the housing 1, in the path of a pin or roller 28 carried by the intermediate .gear 7. The construction and operation of this said cutting means is or may be substantially the same as that disclosedin our I said copending application #391678, and

since no specific claim is laid thereto in the present application, it will notbe further described in detail. Any suitable form of cutting mechanism may, of course, be employed Referring more'especially to Figures 1 and 5, the wire tensioning means which form an essential part of'this present invention comprise a hand lever'30 pivoted upon the stud or bolt 31 secured in the upright web 32 of the frame 1. Also mounted upon the said stud 31 adjacent the lever is a ratchet wheel 33 cut away as at 34 to form a clutch face which is adapted to coact with the companion clutch face 35 formed on a plate or disk 100 rotatably mounted upon the hub 37 with which the ratchet wheel 33 is provided. If desired, a disk or sheet of suitable friction material38 may be interposed between the adjoining faces of the clutch members 34 and 35. The frictional resistance between these said two members may be readily controlled by the adjustment of the nut 39 threaded upon the hub 37 of the ratchet wheel 33 and taking against the member 36 as will be readily apparent from Figure 5.

Associated with the rim of the disk memsaid lever 55 is bent downwardly as at 57 and passes through a hole at one end of the pin 58 slidably mounted in a block 59 and extending through an elongated slot 60 in the endplate 10. The end 61 of the said pin 58 is preferably beveled as shown in Figure 3, and is adapted to enter a recess or hole 62 in the large intermediate gear 7 as will be clear from the drawings; A

The block 59 above referred to is provided with the vertical pins 63 and 64 slidably mounted in the bosses integral with the end plate 10, and the said pin 63 may have associated with it a suitable compression spring 65 for the purpose of maintaining the block 59 in a predetermined position by means of a suitable spiral spring 66, (see Figure 3.)

Upon the completion of the twisting operation it is frequently found dilhcult to eX- tract the wire tie from the slots of the twister pinion by hand and it is an important feature of the present invention to provide a mechanical means for assisting in this. This said means as here shown comprises a curved lever member 70 bifurcated at its lower end and pivoted as at 71 to the housing and the end member 10, as will be clear from Figures 1 and 2. The lower extremities of this said lever 72 and 73, normally project down behind the loights of the wire 47 as shown in Figure 2, andsaid lever is maintained in this position means of a suitable spring 74 as shown.

The operation of this machine will be clear from the foregoing, but it may be briefly summarized as follows :The machine is placed upon the top surface of the box or other package around-which the wire is to be fastened, one end 80 of the wire 47 being introduced into the slot 21 carried by the pin or post 20'and bent slightly upher 100 is a wire gripping V-shaped groove,

40 having the tangentially disposed recesses 41 adapted to receive the end 36 of the wire.

The hand lever 30 has pivotally secured thereto as at 46 a dog 48 provided with afinger extension 49 and also having associated therewith a suitable spring 50 adapted to normally maintain said dog in contact with the ,teeth of the ratchet. wheel 33. A suitable detent 51 may be pivoted as at 52 to the web 32 of the frame 1 andcontrolled by a helical or other suitable spring 53 for the purpose of reventing reverse motion of the ratchet w eel 33 and its associated parts.

The mechanism employed in the present invention for insuring the alinement of the slots 14, 15 and 16 of the twister pinion 9 wardly as shown in Figure 1 in order to hold the same. The bight 101 of the wire is then insertedin the slots 18, 14, 16, 15 and 17. of the frame and twisting element, and also in the slot 23 of the holding post or pin 22. Said wire is now passed around the box or package when the bight 102 is brought up through the slot 21, the slots '18, 14, 16, 15, 17 and 23 and the other end portion of said wire is then wrapped around the V-shaped groove 40in the rim of the tension disk 100 while extreme other end with the slots 17 and 18 of the housing 6 and end member 10 at the end of the twist- 36 is bent into one of the slots 41 of said disk as best shown in Figure- 1.

In the construction of this machine the plane of the groove 40 clarried by the, disk 100 is preferably located somewhat to the rear of the holding slot in the pin or post 22 so that the pull of the bight 102, as the said disk 100 turns, serves to cause said bight 102 to move toward theleft as seen in Figure 4, and to thus crowd the bight 101 well into the slots of said post 22 and of the twisting pinion 9. It results from this action that the bights 101 and 102 are automatically, firmly held in place during the twisting operation, and there is no tendency for said bights to become separated from each other, which, should it happen, would make. an imperfect knot and keep the machine from functioning properly.

In the same way, the bottom of the slot 21 of the post 20 is preferably located some-.

what to the rear of the bottom of the slot in the pinion 9, and therefore, as the wire 47 is anchored' in the package being wired, the bight 102 of said wire tends to hold the eX- treme end 80 andbight 101 of said wire in said slot 21 and thus the positions of the two bights 101 and 102, in the slot of pinion 9, are still further assured.

The wire 47 and its two bi hts 101'and 102 being disposed as above esoribed, the operator places his left hand upon the left hand portion of the machine, as seen in Figure 1, in order to steady the same, and the extreme end 36 of the bi ht 102 having'been disposed of as illustrate his right hand remains free to operate the lever 30.

This he does until the clutch face of the disk 100 slips past the clutch face of the tensioned to a degree corresponding to the tightness with which the nut 39' has been set up. The left hand is now placed on the L-shaped lever 55 which is de ressed, and which rests above the stud 56, w ereupon its angularly disposed member 57 will withdraw theven'd 51 of the pinion 58 from the hole 62 in the intermediate gear 7, thereby permitting the rotation of the gear train.

The crank 4 is now rotated and this, through the shaft 3, the pinion 5 and'the gear 7, will cause the rotation of the wire twisting pinion 9 in the well known manner.

.The gears 57 and.9 may be so proportionedthat a certain predetermined number of revolutions of the crank 4 will be required to produce the desired number of twists in the bights 101 and. 102, which proportions of course, may be varied within a wide limit to meet different conditions. As soon as the rotation of the crank 4 is begun the L-shaped lever 55 may be released whereupon under -the influence of its spring 66, it will attempt to return to the position shown in Fi ure 1.

The hole 62 in the gear 7, however, wi 1 move outof alihement with the in 58, and the inner face of said pin will tlierefore contact with the outer face of said gear until the twisting cycle is completed whereupon the hole 62 will again register with the pin 58 which latter, under the influence of spring 66, above mentioned, will enter the hole 62 and stop the rotation of the wire twisting mechanism at a predetermined point. This point will, of course, be so chosen thatthe slots 14, 15, and 16 will always register with work so that the twisted wire may be readily withdrawn from the mechanism ent invention, this may be readily accomplished by merely pressing upon the bifurcated lever 70, where tremities 72 and 73 thereof will be moved toward .the right, as seen in Figure 2, thereby forcing the twisted bights'of the wire 47 out of the slots 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 as will be readily apparent.

It might be stated in this connection that "at apredetermined point just before the end of the twisting operation, the cutting mechanis'm, here illustrated as an oscillating sleeve ratchet disk 33, whereupon the wire will be 24, will be actuated as for example by the pin 28 striking against the endof .the finger 26 and moving the same in themanner disclosed in our said'co ending a p lication #391678, whereupon the one high 102 of the wire only will be severed in the usual manner, thereby permitting the ready reon the lower ex- 4 moval of the wire from the twisting p'inion.-

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details of construction, as well means for twisting saidwire while under I tension; and pivoted means adapted to positively disengage the twisted wire from said twisting means upon. the completion of the twisting operation, substantially as described.

tion ofmeans comprising a rotating member for exerting a tension on the wire,

2. In a wire tying fifachine thecombina- '1 v ea inaasso wire while under tension; automatic means provided with a clutcly-member pivotally adapted to sever a bight of said wire; and pivoted manually operated means. adapted to positively disengage the twisted Wire from said twisting means upon the completion of the twisting operation, substantially as "described.

4. In a wire tying machine the combination of a frame provided with a plurality.

of wire receiving slots; rotatable slotted means carried by said frame adapted to twist the wire; means comprising a reciprocating member adapted to insure the alinement of the slots of said twisting means with the slots of said frame at the completion of the twisting operation; and

pivoted means adapted to positively disengage the twisted wirefrom all of said slots, substantially as vdescribed.

lln a ,wire tying machine the combination of a frame provided with a plurality of wire receiving slots; friction means adapted to exert a predetermined tension on the wire; rotatable slotted means carried by said frame adapted to twist the wire; means adapted to insure the alinement of the slots of said twisting means with the slots of said frame at the completion of the twisting operation; and means adapted to positively disengage the twisted wirefrom all-of said slots, substantially as described.

6. lln a wire tying machine the combination of a frame provided with a plurality of wire receiving slots; friction means adapmd to exert a predetermined tension 'on'the wire; rotatable slotted means carried by 'said frame adapted to twist the wire; means adapted to insure the alinement of the slots of said twisting means with the slots of said frame at the completion of the twisting operation; automatic means adapted to sever the wire; and means adapted to positively disengage the twisted wire from all of said slots, substantially.

as described. v

7. In a wire tymg machine the'combination of a frame; means carried by said frame adapted to receive and hold one end as described.

of a wire; rotatable twisting means carried by said frame provided; with a recess adapted to receive a plurality ofbights of said wire; a ratchet wheel provided with a clutch member, pivotally mounted on said frame; a companion clutch member associ-' ated with said first clutch member; means adapted to control the frictional engagement of said clutch members; andmeans to rotate said ratchet wheel substantially 8. In a wire tying machine the combination of a frame; means carried by said frame adapted to receive and hold one" end of a wire; rotatable means carried by said frame adapted to twist said wire;. mea ns for rotating said twisting means; a ratchet wheel mounted on said frame; and a disk pro- Vided with a companion clutch member and with wire holding means associated with said ratchet wheel; substantially ,as described.

9. lln a wire tying machine the combination of a slotted frame; means carried by said frame adapted to receive and hold one end ofa wire; rotatable slotted means carrg'ed by said frame adapted to receive and twist together -two bights of said wire; means for rotating said twisting means; means adapted to, insure the alinement of the slots of said twisting means with the slots of said frame at the completion of the twisting operation; a ratchet wheel provided with a clutch member pivotally' mounted on said frame; a disk provided with a com:

panion clutch member and with means for a;

tensioning one of said bights before the twisting operation, said last named means being so disposed as to cause said tensioned bightto hold the other bight insaid rotatable slotted means; and means to rotate said ratchet wheel, substantially as described.

10. lfn a wire tying machine the combination of a slotted frame; means carried by said frame adapted to receive and hold one end of a wire; rotatable slotted means carried by said frame adapted to twist together two bights of said wire; means for rotating said twisting means; a ratchet wheel provided with a clutch member, pivotally mounted on said frame; a disk provided 100,

with a companionclutch member adapted to tension one of said bights and to cause the tensioned bight to hold the other bight in said twisting means; automatic means adapted to sever one bight of the wire; and

means adapted to positively disengage the 13. lln awire tying machine the combination of a wire holding means; a twisting means adapted to twisttwo bights of a wire together; friction means comprising a clutch to put one of said bights under tension; and means to operate said clutch, substantially as described. 7 i

14:. In a wire tying machine the combination of a twisting means adapted to-twist two bights of a wire together; means comprising a friction clutch' to put one of said 0 bights under tension and to hold the other bight in said twisting means; and means comprising a pawl and ratchet to operate said clutch, substantially as described.

15. In a wire tying machine the combination of means adapted to hold two bights of a wire in parallel relation to each Other; friction means to'automatically tension one of said bights while so held; means to regulate the tension to be applied to said last named bight; and means to twist together said bights while so held, substantially as described. v

16. In a wire t ing machine the combination of means a apted to hold two bights of a Wire in parallel relation; means to twist said bights together while so held; and pivto automatically tension, one of said bights' to a predetermined degree while so held; means to twist said bights together after the tensioning operation and while so held; and means to forcibly remove the twisted bights from the machine, substantially as described.

tures.

ALEC J. GERRARD; PARVIN WRIGHT.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signa- 

